SM
Aston Villa vs. Man United: 11 hrs 18 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
Champions League | League Stage
Oct 2, 2024 at 8pm UK
Worthersee Stadion
CB

Sturm Graz
0 - 1
Brugge


Aiwu (51'), Geyrhofer (66'), Chukwuani (70'), Junior Yalcouye (71'), Gazibegovic (90+4')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Tzolis (24')
Skoras (73')

Preview: Sturm Graz vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Sturm Graz vs. Club Brugge - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Sturm Graz and Club Brugge, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

In the second round of fixtures of the revamped Champions League, Austrian champions Sturm Graz are set to host Belgian champions Club Brugge at Merkur Arena on Wednesday.

The home team began their European campaign with a 2-1 defeat against Brest on September 19 and are 26th in the Champions League table, while the away side lost 3-0 against Borussia Dortmund on September 18 and are sixth last in 31st place.


Match preview

The new Champions League's league phase got underway two weeks ago, but Sturm Graz began their campaign in disappointing fashion against Brest, conceding five big chances while only creating one of their own.

Brest scored their first goal of the game in the 23rd minute when Hugo Magnetti struck into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the box after Sturm Graz had cleared a throw in.

Boss Christian Ilzer's team got back on level terms after benefitting from an own goal in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, but he will be disappointed that his side conceded the winner in the 56th minute when they failed to properly deal with a long pass into the box from near the halfway line.

The hosts are currently first in the Austrian Bundesliga with 16 points from eight games, but while they won 2-1 last time out on September 28, that was their first win in their last three league matches.

In fact, the win was their first in their last four games in all competitions, though prior to these games they did win their previous five fixtures.

Sturm Graz have won three of their four most recent home matches, although they have lost all of their last four Champions League games at Merkur Arena.

Meanwhile, the visitors come into the clash having lost 3-0 against Borussia Dortmund, a match in which they managed to keep their opponents out until the 76th minute.

The game itself was fairly evenly contested, with both sides creating two big chances and having 10 shots from inside the penalty area.

Club Brugge will be disappointed that they were unable to make the most of several good counter-attacking opportunities, and manager Nicky Hayen admitted that he felt sour after his side's defeat.

Hayen's team are fourth in the Belgian Pro League with 14 points from nine games and are already eight points behind leaders Genk.

The away team have lost two of their last three fixtures, conceding eight times and scoring on three occasions.

Club Brugge's away form is mixed in recent weeks, as while they have won two of their last three games on the road, they lost the prior two matches away from home and have lost three, drawn two and won just once in their six most recent away games in the Champions League.

Sturm Graz Champions League form:


Sturm Graz form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W

Club Brugge Champions League form:


Club Brugge form (all competitions):



Team News

Sturm Graz will be without defender Dimitri Lavalee, who was sent off in his side's defeat against Brest.

Fellow defender Alexandar Borkovic has recently returned to training after being out due to a cruciate ligament injury, but he is unlikely to start, while Gregory Wuthrich could be out for the foreseeable future as a result of ligament damage.

Arjan Malic may come into the XI in place of Lavalee, and he could be partnered in defence by Max Johnston, Emanuel Aiwu and Jusuf Gazibegovic.

Midfielder Jon Gorenc Stankovic was forced off last time out on September 28, and he may be replaced in the starting lineup by Tochi Chukwuani.

Club Brugge will be unable to select left-back Bjorn Meijer, so expect Maxim De Cuyper to start his second Champions League match this season.

The visitors may not wish to make too many changes from the team that lost to Dortmund considering their good performance, so goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is likely to be shielded by centre-backs Joel Ordonez and Brandon Mechele.

Raphael Onyedika is the most probable candidate to start at the base of midfield behind midfielders Hugo Vetlesen and Hans Vanaken.


Sturm Graz possible starting lineup:
Scherpen; Johnston, Aiwu, Malic, Gazibegovic; Horvat, Chukwuani, Kiteishvili; Boving; Camara, Biereth

Club Brugge possible starting lineup:
Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vetlesen, Onyedika, Vanaken; Olsen, Nilsson, Tzolis


We say: Sturm Graz 1-2 Club Brugge

If Club Brugge can replicate their performance against Dortmund on Wednesday, then there is every chance they could make good on their opportunities in front of goal this time around.

It would not be surprising if the visitors scored first and found success during counter-attacks and take all three points.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


body check tags ::

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


amp_article__554327 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2024-09-30 21:30:15:
html db last update - 2024-09-30 21:30:15 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Bayern trio and Leverkusen superstar: Champions League Team of the Week
Real Madrid return to winning ways with two-goal success over Villarreal
Will Haaland, De Bruyne play for Man City against Fulham?
Man City duo and Barcelona marksman: Champions League Team of the Week
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sturm Graz85121410416
2Rapid Vienna8431119215
3BW Linz94231213-114
4Red Bull SalzburgSalzburg6411136713
5Wolfsberger94142116513
6Hartberg83321110112
7Austria ViennaAustria Vienna93331212012
8Austria KlagenfurtAustria Klagenfurt7322910-111
9WSG Swarovski TirolSwarovski9234811-39
10Rheindorf AltachRheindorf Altach8224810-28
11LASK LinzLASK82151015-57
12Grazer AKGrazer90451118-74
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Real Madrid return to winning ways with two-goal success over Villarreal

1

RM

"A slight discomfort" - Liverpool fans can breathe easy after new injury update

2

&S

Could Arsenal star in "best condition" rejoin old team for free?

3

CA

Spurs 'on scouting mission' for 20-year-old who tormented Man United

4

S'

Seventh heaven: Havertz equals Van Persie record in Arsenal victory

5

SH

"Time to focus" - Wonderkid with stunning goal record confirms Man United move

6

&T

Man City vs. Fulham: Head-to-head record and past meetings

7

MC

Mateo mastery in Manchester: City win five-goal Fulham thriller

8

MM

Slot's Liverpool continue winning ways, Palace winless streak continues

9

SL

How many Liverpool games could Alisson miss with hamstring injury?

10

HM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .